NFL BUild Up: Laois Preview

''get back on the horse that threw you''  

Some auld buck from Reaghstown (i think?)

All week the Louth lads and management, fans even will have been mulling the Armagh game over and over in their heads. Luckily for the players they won't have to wait long to get it out of their system. a week.

Same team. Same time. Same pitch. Same day.
Only difference is the opposition



We played really well for 50ish minutes last week and the players know this aswell.

We tackled superbly allover the pitch with discipline and the vigour of some of the top sides in Ireland. We can do this again but can we do it for the full 70 plus injury time?

AOR has challenged the same group of lads to do so. 
Could be a masterstroke on his part.

Opposition



We played Laois twice last season but they've changed alot
new manager 
new style 
and 
new players


Conor Meredith is one to watch he was there last season but only featured after we knocked them out of leinster. An ex aussie rules player he is a serious forward and will pose problems at full forward.

Worryingly, they have a nicer balance about them up front this year regardless of their more attacking approach under O'Flaharha they have their forwards in the right place.

Also John O'loughlin is seen as an all out midfielder this year. His driving runs caused us all sorts of problems last year but expect him to be well marshaled. Stop him and we go along way in stopping Laois.

Verdict


Check out the footage of their game last week against Donegal and it is plain to see when you run at them they can't cope. Donegal we are not but, we can run the ball well.

The midlanders come into this game after a large defeat to the 2012 all Ireland champions so they will be wounded and they will go into this game with little or no pressure. That alone allows them not to be taken for granted.

Still, I think we will win and the players themselves have to. 

Interesting facts
We have only 5 starters from last years drawn league game in Portlaoise, they'll have Seven.

Laois had zero Sigerson cup players playing this week. zero. We had Seven.
Sign of the times.

Things to Expect
-Their Goalie Brody to take a long range free.
-Everyone giving out no matter what subs AOR makes.
-Relegation 4 pointer award Presentation after the game.
-Laois in an O'Neills kit after years of being with Azzuri.